Decorative support.



T. C. FISHER, Sn.

DECORATIVE SUPPORT. APPLICATIQN men MAR. 31. 1914.

Patented Apr.-6, 1915.

3 S HEBTP-SHEET 1.

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T. C. FISHER, SR.

DECORATIVE SUPPORT.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 31, 1914.

151 34,834,, Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

a SHEETS-SHEET 2.

THE NORRIS PETERS CO), FHOTO-LITHQ. WASHINGTON. D. C,

T. C. FISHER, SR.

DECORATIVE SUPPORT.

APPLICATION HLED MAR. a1. 1914.

1,1 34,834, v Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

a snsms-snnm a. J

awe/M04 THE NORRIS PETERS CO.. FHOmLITHO" WASHINGTON, D C.

n STATES PATENT oFnioE.

TI-IADDEUS C. FISHER, $3., OF PLYMOUTH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR F ONE-HALF TO GEORGE W. BRIGGS, 0F POTTSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

DECORATIVE SUPPORT.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THADDEUS C. FISHER,

7 Sn, a native-born citizen of the United Decorative Supports, of which the following is a specification. V

This invention relates to decorative supports, and particularly to a support which may be used as a substitute for natural trees, such as pine and cedar trees, that are customarily used at Christmas time for the display of ornamental decorations.

An object of the invention is the provision of a structure of thischaracter which may be formed principally of metal and which will consist of sections that are adapted to be readily separated and arranged in a comparatively compact package for shipment or storage when not in use and which will bev also formed so that said sections may be conveniently placed together and built up into the intended form of the structure on which the ornaments and decorations may be displayed.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a structure of this character which is designed so as to conform somewhat with the shape of an ordinary cedar or pine tree and which will further be of a form whereby when the ornaments and decorations are arranged thereon the true nature and construction of the device cannot be readily discorned.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means for suspending the structure so as to permit it to be revolved to cause all portions thereof to be properly presented to the operator during the operation of trimming.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a structure of this character which will include a reflector and illuminating means beneath the reflector, the former being arranged within the structure so that the decorations may be clearly seen in a larger variety of ways than would be possible with- .out the use of the reflector.

A further object of the invention is the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 31, 1914. Serial No. 828,559.

Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

provision of main formers orsupporting devices on substantially concentric rings arranged thereon and connected therewith so that they will be held under ordinary condltions against accidental disconnection therefrom. A still further ob ect of the invention is the provision of a musical sounding device which may bearranged upon the structure so thatmusical sounds will emanate there-v from when the structure is in movement.

With these and other objects in view, the

invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter described and claimed. A

In the accompanying drawings :Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device, showing the same trimmed; Fig. 2 is a vertical section therethrough with the trimmings removed; Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the upper portion of the structure; Fig. 4 1s a perspective view of one of the formers or hangers; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the rings; Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, showing a modified form of ring; Fig. 7 is a horizontal section through one of the rings shown in the modified form; and Fig. 8 is a section on an enlarged scale through one of the formers, showing the manner of connecting the ring therein.

With a view to providing a form of decorative support which may beused as a substitute for natural pine, cedar orother trees; one which will be constructed of fire-proof material so that candles may beused as a means of illumination and in a manner which will reduce to a minimum the possibility of the structure being burned by fire, incident to the use of candles, and further, the provision of a structure which may be of a sectional formation so that it is capable lower end the sleeve is threaded to receive a correspondingly threaded nut 4-, and above the nut and free to rotate thereon is a head 5 consisting preferably of a metallic disk 6 upstruck to form a depending flange 7, then upstruck to form a horizontal flange 8 and from the latter securing devices 9 are upstruck which are engaged over the edges of a substantially inverted frusto-conical member 10 having a mirrored under surface 11. Through the disk 6 and the member 10 is extended a bearing tube 12, and extending through the tube is the sleeve 2 hereinbefore referred to. This arrangement is such that the head 5 is free to rotate on the mentioned sleeve 2 for a purpose to be hereinafter referred to.

Beneath the nut 4 and fitted in the sleeve 2 is a body member 13 having a plurality of substantially radially-arranged sockets 14:, in which electric bulbs 15 are removably fitted. These bulbs are properly connected in an electric circuit (not shown) and the wires of the circuit, such as illustrated conventionally at 16 in the drawings may be extended through the sleeve 2 and then properly connected in the customary manner with the sockets of the electric bulbs. In this manner the bulbs form a means of illumination beneath the mirrored surface 11 of the member 10.

The horizontal flange 8 of the disk 6 is provided with a circular series of vertical passages 17 and removably fitting in the passages are the upper ends or hooks 18 of relatively flexible formers or supports 19. These formers are identical in construction and they are equidistally arranged around said flange 8 of the disk 6, and each is provided at spaced intervals with portions 20. The portion 20 of each former is constructed by first bending the wire from which the former is made in a downward direction, as at 21, and then curving the same in an outward direction at 22 and then again curving the wire in an upward direction as at 23 and causing the latter to define with the first downwardly-bent portion a substantially circular recess having a restricted open entrance 24. The loops thus formed are adapted to receive rings 25. The rings are recessed at 26, where they fit the loops and the said recesses are preferably defined by spaced shoulders or lugs 27 formed on the rings. In this manner the rings will be held against casually slipping around the formers, as will be understood. Each of these rings consists of a plurality of sections and the mating ends of the sections are respectively formed with reduced portions and sockets 28 and 29 so that the sections may be readily connected with each other to produce the completed ring. The rings successively increase in size in a downward direction, the

extreme lower ring being considerably larger than the extreme upper ring and so on throughout the formation of the structure. In this manner the rings and the formers thus go with one another to produce a substantially frusto-conical body which when covered with ornaments and decorations will appear very much in the manner of an ordinary pine or cedar tree.

In order to add to the attractiveness of the structure I find it desirable to employ sound producing means and such means may be best associated with the heretofore mentioned parts by employing a clapper consisting of a bar or wire rod 29 having a hook 30 at its upper end 'removably fitting in an eye'8l which depends from the central portion of the electric bulb carrying member. At the lower end, the clapper bar or rod supports a hollow metal spherical member 32. The clapper is thusfree to swing in pendulum like fashion, and as illustrated sounding bars 83, 33 are carried by'the lower ring of the structure and suspended therefrom by hooks 34. These sounding bars are disposed in the immediate path of the spherical head of the clapper and when engaged thereby pleasing sounds will be produced.

The part of the structure made up from the f0rmers19 and the rings may be rotated through the manner of connecting the head 5 with thesleeve 2. This arrangement simplifies the operation of decorating the structure. The structure may be readily turned so that different portions thereof may be presented'to the operator. In lieu of making the rings in section a solid ring such as shown at 35 may be employed.

Through the arrangement specified the formers 19 may be separated from the rings as desired, and the whole structure may be quickly arranged in a comparatively compact package for storage or shipment. When the bulbs beneath the mirrored surface are lighted, said surface will be illuminated in a manner to cause the ornaments and decorations to be viewed in various attractive ways.

I claim 1. A structure of the class described comprising a disk having openings near its periphery, flexible rods having hooks at their upper ends detachably fitted in said openings, said rods being also provided with resilient outstanding loops, and rings engaged in said loops and detachably secured thereby to said rods.

2. A structure of the class described comprising a disk, a reflector, on the lower side of the disk, illuminating means below the reflector, rods detachably connected to their upper rods to the disk and rings detachably connected to said rods.

3. A structure of the class described comsubstantially superposed manner upon the 10 prising a disk, a reflector, on the lower side rods. of the disk, illuminating means below the re- In testimony whereof I aifix my signature flector, rods detachably connected to their in presence of tWo Witnesses.

-'- upper ends to the disk and rin s detachabl connected to Said rods. g Y THADDEUS o. FISHER, SR.

4. A decorative support comprising a mir- Witnesses: rored member, rods detachably connected MARTHA E. DAVIES, with said member, and rings supported in a JOHN M. THOMAS.

G'opies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). 0. 

